Are my Pipes Sweating or is There a Leak?

If you've been finding puddles on the
floor beneath exposed pipes, you may be wondering if there is a
leak you can't find or if your pipes are sweating. Excess moisture
from leaks and condensation can cause extensive damage to your
flooring, walls, furnishings and even the building envelope. Along
with expensive property damage, high relative humidity levels
inside your house create the perfect environment for mold and
mildew to quickly get out of hand. To protect your family from
potential health risks, you'll want to resolve the issue as soon as
possible.

While many people recognize that sweating pipes could lead to
property damage, some don't realize the pipes aren't the root cause
of the problem. Indoor relative humidity (RH) levels may be to
blame.

Signs you may have a humidity problem

A healthy home has a humidity level that falls somewhere between
30% and 50%. With too much humidity you may notice mold growing in
kitchens and bathrooms. Another outward sign is water rings on
walls or ceilings. On the other hand, if your humidity level falls
too low, your family members may complain of dry, cracked lips and
an increase in asthma or allergy symptoms.

Testing for sweating pipes

The Jacksonville area climate means you deal with hot, muggy
summer weather. To be 100% percent sure if the water is a result of
condensation, you can try to lower the humidity level by increasing
ventilation. Slightly crack a window to bring in more air, purchase
a dehumidifier and make sure kitchen, bathroom and laundry room
fans are working properly. You may want to buy a hygrometer to
measure your success.

Rule out leaks and pipe damage

Pipes shouldn't sweat excessively if you bring the humidity down
to a normal range. Wrapping exposed pipes with tape or if attempts
to eliminate the moisture don't work, contact David Gray Plumbing to schedule a
maintenance inspection to make sure your HVAC system is running
properly and check your pipes for damage. The answer to whether
your pipes are sweating or leaking boils down to this:

If controlling indoor humidity levels eliminates the problems
you are dealing with sweating pipes, if not, you have a leak that
should be identified and remediated to avoid property damage and
potential health risks.

Wrapping all cold water pipes and installing tank blankets will
significantly reduce condensation because preventing air from
reaching the pipes reduces sweat-potential. It is important not to
use pipe wrap as a preventive for leaks. Carefully inspect the
pipes for corrosion and other damage before sealing your exposed
plumbing.

Calling in the professionals to identify the
problem

Regardless of whether you have a condensation problem caused by
high indoor humidity problems or a hard to find leak, hiring a
skilled plumbing contractor like David Gray
Plumbing to help you fix the problem is a wise move. We have
the tools and experience to locate the source of the moisture
quickly. Call today to schedule an appointment, we'll bring the
testing equipment and solutions to you, no trip to the store to buy
a hygrometer required.